Do you struggle to stay focused and retain what you read? If so, these two simple bible study tips from our Sunday School class on the Gospel of Mark can help you.

Tip #1: Read with a pencil in hand.  That may sound simplistic, but two things happen when you grab a pencil while reading.  First, you focus more – which incidentally helps remedy one of the most common problems which is wandering attention.

Second, you retain more if you will simple mark items that grab your eye, jot notes in the margin, or in a journal.

Tip #2: Mark or record observations.  You may be wondering what to mark.  In the inductive method that we are using in Sunday School class, which is adapted from a handout created but the campus ministry STUMO, we watch for these seven things:

  1. Divisions – where do breaks or changes occur in either what’s happening or the thought flow of a passage.
  2. Reason for/Results of – watch for connecting words such as, because, therefore, in order that, so, etc.  These words flag what should be motivating us or results we can hope for from specific behaviors.
  3. Repetition of Thoughts or Words – Repeated words tend to occur because something is a critical theme. Once you notice one, start watching for where it occurs in other passages.
  4. Types of Statements – The STUMO inductive bible study suggests watching for “Warnings, Commands, Promises, Exhortations, Rhetorical Questions, etc.
  5. Descriptions- watch for adjectives or titles. Particularly, about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. These descriptions help us understand the character of God or other key figures in the Bible.
  6. Comparisons and/or contrasts- comparisons and contrast give us great clarity and depth of knowledge.
  7. Other- Any details that seem significant or grab at your attention are worth noting.  Often times these are clues for deeper understanding.

For tomorrow’s class, January 13th, I asked everyone to read through the Gospel of Mark during the week, preferably in one sitting. That’s a great way to get a thirty-thousand foot view for the passage.  Then, read Mark 1:1-13 and mark or record the seven items above.

Also, if you want to join us for Sunday School it begins at 9:45 a.m.

I hope you are having a great weekend. Blessings,

Rev. John Arnold

PS: Attention Women – I just want to remind you that this Thursday is the Christian Women’s Book Club meeting in our home, 1234 Haven St. in Jonesboro, at 5:30 pm. We are still studying the book Undaunted and are on the fourth section.